Event ANC03LA087

Factual narrative

On August 1, 2003, about 1205 Alaska daylight time, a tailwheel-equipped Cessna 170 airplane, N3418C, sustained substantial damage when the left wing contacted the runway following a loss of control during the landing roll at Merrill Field, Anchorage, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) local area personal flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. The airplane was operated by the pilot. The private certificated pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The flight originated at Merrill Field about 0900. No flight plan was filed, nor was one required. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), on August 5, the pilot reported that he recently received a tailwheel endorsement. He said he was practicing landings at various airports and then landed on runway 24 at Merrill Field. During the landing, the pilot reported that a right crosswind was blowing between 10 to 12 knots. He said the airplane bounced on touchdown, and the right wing was lifted by the wind. He corrected the bounce by application of rudder, but the left wing contacted the runway surface and the airplane ground looped. The pilot said a mechanic examined the airplane and advised him that two outboard wing ribs of the left wing and the left aileron required replacement. At 1153, an Aviation Routine Weather Report (METAR) at Merrill Field was reporting in part: Wind, 330 degrees (true) at 7 knots; visibility, 10 statute miles; clouds and sky condition, few at 6,000 feet, 12,000 feet scattered; temperature, 64 degrees F; dew point, 35 degrees F; altimeter, 30.03 inHg. The private certificated pilot had recently received a tailwheel endorsement, and was practicing landings in the tailwheel-equipped airplane at various airports. During the accident landing, the pilot reported that a right crosswind was blowing between 10 to 12 knots. He said the airplane bounced on touchdown, and the right wing was lifted by the wind. He corrected the bounce by application of rudder, but the left wing contacted the runway surface and the airplane ground looped. The pilot said a mechanic examined the airplane and advised him that two outboard wing ribs of the left wing and the left aileron required replacement. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12